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Demands New Defence Minister’s Response to US President’s Threat
- Safiu Kehinde
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has decried the pressure imposed on Nigeria by Donald Trump as he demanded the new Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, to provide response the United States President’s threat to take military action against terrorists in the country over alleged Christian genocide in the country.
Akpabio raised the concern during the screening of Musa for the approval of his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
NPO Reported that the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff had on Wednesday appeared before the Senate for screening.
While fielding questions raised by the lawmakers, a mild drama ensued as Senator Sani Musa raised a motion for an end to the screening as he held that most questions and responses of the ex-CDS about the nation’s security are sensitive information that should not be thrown into debate in public.
This had sparked mixed reactions within the chamber with most lawmakers vehemently protesting against the motion.
The development had forced Akpabio to stand from his seat and called the lawmakers to order.
Speaking after the normalcy was restored, Akpabio faulted the motion, stressing that Nigerians deserve to hear from him how he intends to tackle the insecurity bedeviling the country.
The Senate President held that there several questions that are yet to be asked, particularly on Trump’s threat.
Akpabio maintained that the ex-CDS need to provide a response to the threat by the US President, who he claimed to have put the lawmakers under pressure.
“We are not asking him questions because we don’t like him. We are asking him questions because our constituents will have loved to ask him questions at a time like this.
“So, if we come here and we do politics of oh bow and go, this is not a period we should say bow and go. Even Donald Trump is on our neck.
“We have not yet asked him what his response will be to Donald Trump, the President of America.
“He is not just anybody. Chief of Defence Staff, a nominee for the Minister of Defence for a country and you stand up and say he should take a bow and go? With so many questions in the mouth of Nigerians?
“With over 200 Nigerian children in the bush kidnapped and being tortured?
“His appointment his hailed all over Nigeria with happiness because Nigerians believe he has something to offer. Give the man opportunity to give Nigerians hope.” Akpabio said.